Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a bioceramic naturally present in human bones and teeth, prized for its exceptional biocompatibility, bioactivity, and capacity for osteointegration, rendering it a viable candidate for biomedical applications as a drug delivery system. Nevertheless, HAp possesses limited antibacterial properties. Thus, the present study focuses on synthesizing hydroxyapatite/alginate/copper oxide (HAp/Alg/CuO) composite to augment these attributes. An environmentally friendly synthesis approach is explored to create the HAp/Alg/CuO composite. Polyscias scutellaria leaf extract is anticipated to function as a capping agent, facilitating control over the composite's morphology. Additionally, residual bamboo clam shells serve as the precursor material for HAp fabrication. The composites prepared were analyzed by a series of characterization techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). XRD analysis revealed the formation of HAp/Alg/CuO composites exhibiting a hexagonal structure consistent with the ICDD #157481 standard. The crystallite size was obtained at 30.00 nm, 33.35 nm, 24.14 nm, and 26.84 nm for HAp/Alg/CuO-1, HAp/Alg/CuO-2, HAp/Alg/CuO-3, and HAp/Alg/CuO-4, respectively. FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of the hydroxyl, phosphate, carboxylic, and metal-oxide (Cu–O) bonds. SEM images revealed irregularly shaped, agglomerated particles with an average particle size of 0.416 μm. EDS spectra exhibited calcium, carbon, phosphorus, and oxygen elements. Clindamycin-loaded HAp/Alg/CuO composites were assessed for their antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. The inhibition zones observed suggest that clindamycin-loaded HAp/Alg/CuO composites hold promise as drug delivery vehicles. Further investigation and development of these composites are warranted, with potential applications in treating specific ailments attributed to Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli infections, such as osteomyelitis.
Key words: composite, hydroxyapatite, alginate, drug carrier, antibacterial
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